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By Nick Berney

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting. Selections based on a good to soft track. Monitor for bias/pattern.

4. Leandra was honest first-up at Canterbury 15 days ago and ran on solidly after having the bias against her. Further, the late market trade suggested she would improve from that effort and will undoubtedly be fitter. The lightly raced three-year-old sets up well here with a favourable map and second-up last prep; she produced her career peak figure. Additionally, she drops back to the provincial circuit and races at her home track. It's worth noting the Jason Attard & Lucy Keegan-Attard stable is in red-hot form. The duo have saddled up 14 winners out of their past 100 runners for a profit on turnover of 29.8%.

Dangers: 3. Jo Jo Sun's run had merit last start at Wyong, where he faced the breeze in a genuine tempo and to his credit, he never shirked his task to the line. He is rock-hard fit and can roll forward from the wide draw. 7. Likeabomb is a knockout chance who can bounce back onto a dry surface. First starters 1. Hardash and 2. Lord Of Wexford both come through the same trial and are market watches.

How to play it: Leandra WIN ($2.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Leandra last start at Canterbury on May 3

6. Lady Gold tried hard first-up at Kembla to run second in a high-rating race. She will be fitter for that, and second-up last prep, she produced her career peak figure. Moreover, she will appreciate the rise in distance and maps to control the pace of the race after this morning's scratchings.

Dangers: Market watch 3. Emancipist who has the ability and is more suited on drier ground. 4. Lumiere was held up for most of the straight last start and flashed home. Add 7. Tot Of Rum and 5. Ocean Honour to wider exotics.

How to play it: Lady Gold WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Lady Gold runs second at Kembla on April 26

8. Subarctic is racing well this preparation and wasn't suited to settling at the rear of the field last start at Newcastle in a farcical tempo. To his credit, he closed off strongly, clocking the race's fastest final 600m split and maintaining a solid finishing speed to the line. He is a rock-hard fit, has improved with experience and can settle closer from the softer draw. Each-way.

Dangers: 1. Tambourine Man brings a different form line and is ready to peak fourth-up. 3. Genetic Freak brings metropolitan form lines and add 13. La Sagrada to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Subarctic E/W ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Subarctic last start at Newcastle on May 4

3. Starry Jack profiles well for this event and is coming out of time/sectional merit races. The gelding was specked late in the trade last start at Gosford and built through his gears well to run an honest third. He is at optimal fitness, brings the best last start figure, receives key gear changes and is ready to peak. In addition, expect him to roll forward and be hard to run down, with Josh Parr riding for the first time.

Dangers: 6. Dolly Bird raced wide first-up Kembla in a solid tempo and battled on ok. She is a significant improver second-up with a much more positive race setup and can rate to win. 4. Deceive tried hard to run second last start at Newcastle behind subsequent Listed placegetter Written In Code. 15. Kiribati will have improved with race experience and Tim Clark rides.

How to play it: Starry Jack WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Starry Jack runs third at Gosford on April 25

1. Funambulist is an import in his second Australian preparation, and all key indicators suggest he is ready to peak over more ground. The Annabel Neasham trained galloper got too far back in a very slow tempo but made-up significant ground and kept trying to the line. He can undoubtedly step off that performance, and third-up last campaign, he bolted in by 5.5 lengths, albeit in maiden grade.

Dangers: 8. Reliable Dude was heavily backed last start at Wagga and just missed in a tight finish. He hasn't won in a long time but can rate to win and is rock-hard fit. 7. Gorgeous Zara is a lightly raced three-year-old who showed a strong closing speed to break through for her maiden win last start. Add 5. Rule The World and 4. Dolphina to trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Funambulist WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Funambulist last start at Kembla on April 26

1. Kunnese bolted in last start at Kembla by 5.5 lengths and did it easily. Further, he ran slick time relative to the day after adjustments and posted the fastest closing splits of the meeting. He returns to his home track, rolls forward from the kind draw and brings the best last start figure. Repeating that performance will make him hard to catch.

Dangers: 3. Fourth Spargo was immediately spelled after an impressive debut performance last campaign at Wyong. She resumes here and has trialled well in preparation for this assignment. The filly looks to have come back improved and expect a bold showing. 9. Keikoku is sharply back in distance but is coming out of a high-rating race. 5. Party Doll can give a sight.

How to play it: Kunnese WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Kunnese wins at Kembla on April 26

3. Hayatti broke through for his maiden win in style last start at Newcastle, and his ratings/sectionals profile suggest he can improve again. The gelding made up significant ground in the final straight and savaged the line to score, running one of the meeting's fastest final 200m splits. He can settle closer from the inside draw; the step up in the distance and the big track are ideal.

Dangers: 2. Grand Crusader and 1. Tenderize both set up well here, returning to a drier surface where they produce their peak figures, and both map favourably. 5. Eau De Vie has been up for a long time but has been freshened up with a tick-over trial between runs and drops significantly in grade. Add 4. Sugoi Legend who started a respectable price in a listed race before spelling last prep and ran evenly.

How to play it: Hayatti WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Hayatti wins at Kembla on April 26

Forgive 2. Acceber's last start where he had no luck in the MTC Guineas (1600m) at Wagga. Before that, his run had merit at Wyong, where he raced wide, wasn't suited by the pace of the race, and had to make a long-wide sustained run. Nevertheless, he hit the line well, clocking one of the fastest final 200m splits of the meeting, and that form reference has since been proven. Expect him to fight out the finish with even luck.

Dangers: 1. Ruby Flyer is rising sharply in distance, but he was a dominant winning last start at Wyong and was eased down prior to the line. He maps to have all favours, and Jason Collett rides for the first time. 8. Chappelli can sprint fresh. Add 3. El Bravo and 10. Blue Guitar to wider exotics.

How to play it: Acceber WIN ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

Acceber last start at Wagga on May 5

Best Bet: Race 4 # 3 - Starry Jack

Next Best: Race 1 # 4 - Leandra

Best Value: Race 3 # 8 - Subarctic

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Hawkesbury meeting